Applications Invited for Youth Summit 2025: New Horizons: Youth-Led Innovation for a Livable Planet

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About the Organization

Our mission is to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet. This is threatened by multiple, intertwined crises. Time is of the essence.

We are writing a new playbook to drive impactful development that is:

• Inclusive of everyone, including women and young people.
• Resilient to shocks, including against climate and biodiversity crises, pandemics and fragility.
• Sustainable, through growth and job creation, human development, fiscal and debt management, food security and access to clean air, water, and affordable energy.

To achieve this, we will work with all clients as one World Bank Group, in close partnership with other multilateral institutions, the private sector, and civil society.

About the Event

The World Bank Group Youth Summit returns for its 12th edition, inviting young people to engage with the most urgent issues their generation faces, while bringing together thousands of participants from across the globe. This year, the summit will center on innovation in climate action, digital transformation, and the creative industries.

The Youth Summit is the World Bank Group's largest annual event for youth (ages 18-35) worldwide. It will be held on May 19-20, 2025, featuring activities and engagements both at the World Bank Group headquarters in Washington DC and across various regions.

The mission of the Summit is to:

• Empower youth to explore innovative solutions to development challenges;
• Equip youth with the tools to create and participate in impactful projects; and
• Foster dialogue between youth, the World Bank Group, and other key global stakeholders.

Theme:

The 2025 World Bank Group Youth Summit invites young changemakers, innovators, and leaders to shape a sustainable and inclusive future through bold, youth-driven solutions. Under the theme "New Horizons: Youth-Led Innovation for a Livable Planet," this year’s summit focuses on three transformative areas:

• Digital Transformation & Data: Discover how youth leverage technology, including AI and big data, to drive economic growth, bridge the digital divide, and create a future-ready labor market.
• Climate Action & Resilience: Explore innovative solutions for green technologies, smart cities, and sustainable agriculture, showcasing how young leaders can combat climate change while creating job opportunities.
• Creative Industries: Highlight the role of arts, media, and fashion in fostering employment, social and economic change, promoting sustainability, and preserving cultural heritage.

When discussing these subthemes, the Summit will focus on three fresh perspectives on innovation: Underserved populations, Fragility, Conflict, and Violence (FCV), and Partnerships. By spotlighting these areas, the event aims at amplifying diverse voices, fostering innovation for sustainable development, and building collaborative networks to scale impact globally.

Join us in celebrating the creativity, technology, and entrepreneurial spirit of young leaders as they redefine possibilities, impulse new job opportunities, and lead the charge for a more inclusive and resilient world.

Why is it relevant:

85% of the world’s youth live in low- and middle-income countries, with 600 million in fragile or conflict-affected settings. Nearly 800 million young people in developing nations risk being excluded from the job market over the next decade, particularly those from marginalized groups facing barriers due to gender, ethnicity, disability, and other social identities. Despite these challenges, young people are driving innovation, which is a key factor to create new job opportunities, promote inclusion, and tackle climate change.

Youth-led initiatives are already making an impact, such as using real-time data to improve agricultural resilience, launching digital platforms for financial inclusion, and navigating their way into creative industries. These innovations offer new business models and industries, helping to address the rising youth unemployment crisis and solve some development challenges.

The 2025 Summit will focus on amplifying these efforts, particularly in key sectors like education, healthcare, and green technologies. It will highlight how innovation can provide job opportunities and empower marginalized populations, in line with the World Bank Group’s priorities. The Summit aims to foster global partnerships among youth, governments, businesses, and civil society to scale up youth-led solutions, contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable future for young people worldwide.

Delegates:

The WBG Youth Summit is the World Bank Group’s premier event for young leaders worldwide. As a delegate, you will have the opportunity to engage with global development leaders, participate in high-level discussions, and contribute to shaping solutions to pressing global challenges. Delegates are emerging changemakers—students, young professionals, and entrepreneurs—who are passionate about development issues and eager to collaborate with like-minded peers.

Components of the Summit:

Delegates will actively participate in various components of the WBG Youth Summit, which include:

• Keynote Addresses and Panel Discussions: Engage with world-renowned speakers, policymakers, and development experts on global challenges and innovative solutions.
• Innovation Lab (formerly Case Challenge): Put on your innovation hats and take part in hands-on, interactive workshops to build innovative solutions for real World Bank Group Projects (for in-person delegates only).
• Interactive Q&A and Polling: Engage with speakers and panelists through live Q&A sessions and polls.
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with professionals, World Bank Group representatives, private-sector partners and fellow young leaders from around the world.
• Career Development Session: Get an opportunity to learn about different internships and programs that can prove to be your entryway into a rewarding career. Past presenters include colleagues from WBG, WB Treasury, IMF, UN, IDB, etc.
• Choose a Pitch Competition winner: Witness the Pitch Competition final where the top 6 finalists showcase their groundbreaking youth-led initiatives and projects in a shark-tank like competition. Vote for your favorite solution or idea to decide on the Audience Choice Award.

Perks of Being a Delegate:

• Be part of a prestigious global platform for youth-driven impact and innovation.
• Gain insights from industry leaders, policymakers, and development professionals.
• Expand your global network with like-minded individuals and experts.
• Receive an official certificate of participation from the World Bank Group Youth Summit upon completion.
• Enhance your leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills in a dynamic and engaging environment.

By becoming a delegate, you will not only contribute to meaningful discussions but also gain valuable knowledge and connections to further your impact in the development space. Apply now to be part of this transformative experience!

How to Apply

Apply here to be a delegate at the WBG Youth Summit! Applications will be open until April 15, 2025.

For more information please check the Link

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